Magnetic data storage devices



Marchl7, 1959 H. E. AUSTEN MAGNETIC DATA STORAGE DEVICES Filed March 22, 1956 INVENTOR HERMAN E. AUSTEN BY @w M HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent MAGNETIC DATA STORAGE DEVICES Herman E. Austen, Trotwood, Ohio, assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application March 22, 1956, Serial No. 573,283

4 Claims. (Cl. 340-174) This invention relates to magnetic core storage and switching devices, suitable for use in magnetic core matrices of electronic calculating machines.

The devices consist of a number of closed magnetic cores supported on a self-supporting rigid non-magnetic structure, which holds them in position for easy insertion of electrical conductors by which data may be selectively entered into the device or read therefrom. A plurality of the devices may be formed into a coordinate matrix.

The rigid support for the cores preferably is an electrical conductor, and the supported cores may be arranged thereon in rows and columns to form a coordinate matrix. Such electrically conductive continuous rigid support may act as one of the electrical conductors in the matrix system by reason of its passing through each core.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show successive steps in one form of making the device, and

Fig. 4 shows a complete coordinate matrix system of two rows of the novel device.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown an inner support consisting of a hollow tube of non-magnetic material, having closely fitted or electro-plated thereover a magnetic covering 11. The tube 10 should be of material which is rigid but which can be bent to a shape which it will retain, and, preferably of electrically conductive material, such as brass or copper.

The magnetic covering next is subjected to an operation which gives it the form of Fig. 2, as by grinding or cutting circumferential grooves at spaced intervals in the magnetic covering material until the outer surface of the support tube 10 is exposed.

Next the tube 10 is cut crosswise, at the groove intervals, the cuts being made so that the tube is held together so as to leave bridges such as 12. and 12'. As shown, the adjoining cuts are from diametrically opposite sides, leaving magnetic ring cores as individual units 13, 13'. As is known, to prevent as much as possible unwanted effects in a matrix to be made of these devices the cores in a row are alternately oriented at substantially right angles. This is done in the present invention by bending the bridges 12, 12, as shown in Fig. 4.

It is not necessary to remove the magnetic material before making the diametrically opposite cuts, as the magnetic material left on the bridges 12 would not interfere with the operation of the cores to any considerable extent.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a coordinate matrix of two rows, with five magnetic cores in each row, the matrix being shown with but few cores for the sake of simplicity. There may be as many rows and as many cores in a row as desired.

In the event the continuous supporting material 10 is an electrical conductor, adjacent rows are electrically connected, as by portion 16 of the conductor.

It will be seen that the rows and columns of cores shown in Fig. 4 have their holes in straight alinement as to rows and columns, so that straight electrical conductors may be strung through them with ease without bending, the supporting material serving to hold the cores without any other device being necessary, inexact spaced relation. The connector portion 16 may be of sufiicient stifiness to hold the two rows of cores in proper alinement while the electrical conductors like 14 and 15 are passed therethrough.

Although the supporting tube 10 may be covered by magnetic material as by slipping over it a closely fitted tube of magnetic material, the most eflicient method of covering the support is by electro-plating magnetic material thereover.

Following is the formula of a satisfactory aqueous magnetic plating solution used at centigrade with a current density of 30-60 amperes per square foot:

50 grams per liter of water of FeCl -4I-I O 20 grams per liter of water of NiCl -6H O 12 grams per liter of water of Na WO -2H O 50 grams per liter of water of NH Cl grams per liter of water of Citric acid (C H O' 'H O) 1/10 gram per liter of water of thiourea adjusted to pH 8.5 with NH OH The plating may be carried on until the desired thickness is obtained.

It is within the scope of the invention to form the tubular support into the connected rings and then to magnetically plate them.

What is claimed is:

l. A series of closed magnetic ring-like cores each supported internally on an electrically-conductive ring, the ring-supported cores of a series being arranged in a line with adjacent cores of the series having their axes at right angles, whereby an electric conductor may be easily passed through the series; and an electricallyconductive means rigidly connecting adjacent rings in alinement and orientation whereby the supporting rings and connections constitute a further conductor extending through the series of cores.

2. A series of closed magnetic ring-like cores each supported internally on an electrically-conductive ring, the ring-supported cores of a series .being arranged in a line with adjacent cores of the series having their axes at right angles, whereby an electric conductor may be easily passed through the series; and a bent rigid electrically-conductive means connecting adjacent rings in alinement and in the right angle orientation, whereby the supporting rings and connections constitute a further conductor extending through the series of cores.

3. A series of closed magnetic ring-like cores each sup ported internally on an electrically-conductive ring, the ring-supported cores of a series being arranged in a line, whereby to provide a straight path to enable an electric conductor to be easily passed through the series; and an angular electrically-conductive bridge rigidly connecting each two adjacent rings of the series to position adjacent rings of the series with their axes at right angles, the bridges from any ring to adjacent rings extending from diametrically opposite points on a ring, said supporting rings and connecting bridges constituting a further conductor extending through the series of cores.

4. A self-supported array of rows and columns of closed magnetic cores all supported on a continuous rigid framework of serially connected parallel and alined rows of electrically conductive material which passes through each core, and to which conductive material the cores are closely fitted, the axes of adjacent cores in a row being at right angles so that an electric wire may be passed in a straight line directly through the Patented Mar. 17,, 1 959 3 cores of the row without bending, while magnetic in- 2,700,150 Wales Jan. 18, 1955 duction between the cores of a row is reduced to a 2,732,542 Minnick Jan. 24, 1956 minimum by reason of the alternate angular position of 2,792,563 Rajchman May 14, 1957 the cores. 2,825,046 Herbert et a1 Feb. 25, 1958 5 References Cited in the file of this patent El OTHER REFERENCE:

ectronics, for April 1953, the rent cover illus- UNITED STATES PATENTS tration and the illustration at the bottom of page 146 2,278,744 Sparrow et al. Apr. 7, 1942 of the article entitled, Ferrite Speed Digital Computers 2,531,820 Lindenblad Nov. 28, 1950 1 by D. R. Brown and E. Albeir-Shoenberg. Pages 146 2,671,950 Sukacev Mar. 16, 1954 to 149. 

